General Solutions to Laptop Problems

Although laptops are not perfect systems, they do offer tremendous advantages. Fortunately, what problems they do have can be ameliorated to a surprising degree. Table 1.13 summarizes the common problems and solutions covered in the following sections.

Table 1.13. Common Notebook Computer Shortcomings and Possible Solutions

Notebook Problem	Possible Solution
Expensive relative to an equivalent desktop	Actually, on a per- hour basis, a notebook may be more inexpensive.
Increased risk of damage, loss, and theft	Laptop insurance, extended warranties, frequent data backups , and encrypted hard disks.
Slower performance relative to high-end desktops	Buy a desktop as a notebook peripheral.
Difficult to upgrade and repair	No true solution. You must perform either limited upgrades or replace the notebook.

Actually Cheaper Than Desktops

A simple comparison of price tags suggests that desktops are less expensive than notebooks . A more intensive examination on a cost/benefit basis may suggest otherwise . Because a notebook may be used more often than a desktop, it could actually be less costly on a per-hour basis.

Laptop Insurance

Physical damage to notebooks can be lessened by following two simple rules dictated by common sense. First, always transport your notebook in a well-cushioned bag specifically designed for that purpose. Second, never leave cables attached to your notebook in a place where someone can trip over them.

Even the most careful person, however, will occasionally subject the notebook to an environmental stress for which it was not designed. This could involve the notebook being dropped, dropped upon, run over, dunked, or a dozen other catastrophes. The only way to combat these mishaps is to be sure you're covered by either insurance or an extended warranty.

Protection from System Loss

Just as with desktops, frequent disk backups are a must. In fact, because the rougher environment that the laptop has to endure, backups are even more vital . Unfortunately, because laptops are often not attached to LANs and large backup storage devices, these portable devices are rarely backed up. Despite the difficulty, laptop users must make a habit of connecting to some type of storage device and backing up their data.

The increasing popularity of CD-RW disc drives on laptops may make this easier. It is a fairly simple task of popping in an inexpensive CD-R disc and copying the My Documents portion from one's hard drive to the optical disc. A good rule of thumb is to do this backup every time your antivirus software requires an update of its virus definitions.

People who have sensitive information on their laptops need some additional protection. Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP Professional offer a decent encryption facility. Be sure to turn this feature on and use an appropriate password.

For Games , a Cheap Desktop

It was not long ago that corporate buyers of notebook computers would purposefully specify that the systems would lack high-quality audio, DVD drives, and high-speed video accelerators. The reason was that the corporations did not want to spend extra money so that their employees could waste time playing games. Employees have countered that even the most devoted working stiff occasionally needs to work off steam . When many employees began buying their own notebooks, the manufacturers began equipping them with all the latest entertainment features that could fit into a 7- pound battery- powered device. But the fact is that notebooks will never be quite as fast as a high-end desktop for these purposes. If you need the absolute best performance possible, you may be better off buying a desktop and using it as a game-playing peripheral for your notebook.

Upgrades Are Indeed Possible

Because of their small size, notebooks are difficult to repair or upgrade. The components are often so small that you need special tiny tools to access them. And, without the right guidance, you could really get into trouble. But despite the challenges involved, it is indeed possible to upgrade or repair a notebook ”as long as you have the proper guidance. And that, of course, is what this book is all about.